British Swim School Opens Palatine-Lake Zurich Location

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of the story had the new location being in Buffalo Grove, but British Swim School reached out to Patch and says the owner had to "pivot" from that address.

PALATINE, IL — British Swim School has opened a new Chicagoland location at the Grand at Twin Lakes, 920 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine.

Subscribe

The Swim School of Palatine-Lake Zurich is owned and operated by Rajesh Desikan, a senior healthcare executive and parent of two British Swim School graduates.

“I’ve been a British Swim School parent for more than six years,” Desikan tells Patch. “My daughters learned to swim through this program, and I’ve seen firsthand how effective and confidence-building it is.”

Desikan said water safety is something many people take for granted, even though drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death.

“Being able to bring these lifesaving skills to my community is incredibly meaningful,” Desikan said.

The Palatine location boasts a quieter, calmer environment with a warmer pool, providing an ideal environment for children anxious about being in the water.

British Swim School was founded in Manchester, England, in 1981 by Rita Goldberg and expanded to North America in 1991. The company, now part of Virginia Beach-based Buzz Franchise Brands, offers survival-first swim instruction for children and adults and has hundreds of locations across the U.S. and Canada.

In Illinois, British Swim School lists locations in Arlington Heights, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Skokie, Rosemont, Burr Ridge, Villa Park, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, South Elgin, Carol Stream, Round Lake Beach, Oak Lawn, Lyons, Crestwood and Chicago, among others.

British Swim School’s curriculum emphasizes survival-first instruction, small lesson sizes and child- and adult-friendly teaching methods. Programs are available for infants, toddlers, children, adults and individuals with special needs.

Desikan’s interest in swimming began in childhood and later shaped his approach as a parent. After living abroad in Europe, where his daughters first learned to swim, he returned to the U.S. and enrolled them in British Swim School.

Desikan said he was impressed by the school’s water-safety-first approach and its focus on putting the swimmer first.

“Swimming is more than just a milestone in your childhood; it’s a lifelong skill,” Desikan said. “I would see adults swimming laps when I would drop off my daughters for class. You see toddlers learning to float and save themselves. It’s one of the few activities that truly spans every age and ability.”

Desikan is also involved in charitable and nonprofit causes, including Blood Cancer United and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and plans to continue community-focused initiatives as the school grows.

British Swim School has more than 45 years of experience delivering swim education and operates more than 550 schools across the United States and Canada.

For more information, visit the school's website here.